Astilbe 'Heart and Soul' is a plant with a lot of A. chinensis species genes in its makeup. A. chinensis is the toughest of all the Astilbe species with plants able to stand up to the effects of sunlight, heat, humidity and insufficient water much better than others. But at the end of the day it must be remembered that they are still Astilbes, and the general conditions this genus requires still should be respected in order for your plants to thrive!

If you grow other types of Astilbe, you may notice that A. 'Heart and Soul' develops slower and flowers later. This is a typical trait of A. chinensis and is connected with the robust nature of the plants, as the slower growth rate enables them to store more nutrients in their system.

Water
Harrie says: It's all about water. Give your Astilbes lots of water, especially when they're flowering. Remember, you cannot drown an Astilbe, so don't be shy!!

Why not grow them alongside water where the soil is damp - they'll look very beautiful in this setting.  

Sunlight
Astilbes are much better if not grown in direct sunlight. Morning sun and dappled shade should be fine, but they should especially be protected from the strong midday and afternoon sun.

Just how much sun your Astilbe can handle depends very much on your local climate, as the plants will be able to handle more hours of sun in cooler regions.

After flowering
After an Astilbe's flowers fade they may turn brown, leaving large dead-looking plumes where the spectacular colours were previously displayed. It has been claimed that the faded flowers of some varieties turn green instead, leaving a more pleasant image. 

Harrie busts a myth here, as according to him the colour of the faded flowers is only a reflection on how well nourished the plants are. If they are satisfied the flowers will fade to green and then produce seed. If they aren’t, then they go brown. So now you know how to tell if you have looked after your Astilbes well enough!